Inspection on 27/04/10 for Millings The
Also see our care home review for Millings The for more information
This is the latest available inspection report for this service, carried out on 27th April 2010.
CQC found this care home to be providing an Excellent service.
The inspector found no outstanding requirements from the previous inspection report, but made 1 statutory requirements (actions the home must comply with) as a result of this inspection.
What follows are excerpts from this inspection report. For more information read the full report on the next tab.
What the care home does well
We looked at one person`s care records during our visit. These records included an assessment of need that had been completed before the person moved into the home. We also talked to the manager about new admissions and were told that people were encouraged to visit the home and spend time there, before deciding if they wanted to move in. In our surveys we asked if people had been given enough information before moving in, to help them decide if The Millings was the right place for them. Six people said `yes`, one said `no` and one said they `didn`t know`. One person commented that they did `their best to make people feel welcome and to settle in`. People we spoke to told us that they were happy with the care they received. Comments made to us by people who live at the home included `I like living at The Millings`, `they always treat me with great respect`, `carers are very pleasant`, `friendly home and nice caring staff`, `oh I`m happy here, I can say that with absolute sincerity` and `I am very happy here and have no complaints or regrets`. A relative told us `I wouldn`t want my relative anywhere else` and `they go that bit extra`. We looked at one person`s care records. These records contained appropriate risk assessments, covering care needs such as nutrition, maintaining skin integrity, preventing falls and manual handling. They also included care plans, which had been reviewed regularly. The records showed that the person had recently been in contact with their doctor, physiotherapist and social worker. We spent some time looking at the way medication is stored and administered at The Millings. Staff were monitoring the temperature of the medications fridge and clinic room, to make sure that medication was being stored within safe temperature parameters. The medication administration records and stock balances we checked tallied correctly. We checked one person`s controlled drugs and found that the controlled drugs register was correct when checked against the stock balance. In our surveys we asked people if they liked the meals that are provided at The Millings. Six people said `usually` and two people said `sometimes`. During our visit we talked to people about the food and looked at the menus. The menu`s showed us that a variety ofmeals were provided and that people were involved in choosing what is on the menus. Comments made to us by people who live at the home included `they cook tasty meals in the kitchen and a good variety`, `food is always excellent, I enjoy my meal times` and `I have a good appetite and I`ve never suffered from lack of nourishment`. A relative commented `the meals here are just unbelievable, very, very good`. `In our surveys we asked people if there were activities provided that they could take part in. Six people said `always` and two said `usually`. During our visit we saw that there were jigsaws around that people could do. One person described the activities coordinator as `very good too`. Comments made to us included `activities every day are very good, including outings`, `we play scrabble and whist and bridge, there`s something going on every afternoon` and `perhaps set up some occupation for weekends (when activities are not good)`. In our surveys we asked people if they knew how to make a complaint. Five people said `yes` and three said `no`. When we asked if there was someone people could talk to informally if they were unhappy, seven people said `yes` and one said `no`. During our visit we saw that information about raising concerns was clearly displayed on the home`s notice boards. We also looked at the home`s complaints book. This showed that any concerns that were raised had been appropriately looked into and resolved. There have been no formal complaints made directly to CQC about the home recently. We looked around the home and saw that it was very comfortably furnished. The rooms were clean and tidy and the decor and furnishing were well maintained. People`s bedrooms were individual and comfortable. Comments made to us about the home included `the rooms are fresh and clean`, `the rooms are well furnished and comfortable`, `they`ve got very good cleaners` and `lovely grounds`. The manager told us about some of the improvements that are planned for the near future. These included a new garden gazebo, installation of new showers and a new call alarm system that would enable better use of assistive technology. We checked to make sure that the home`s lifting and fire fighting equipment had been serviced recently and found that up to date maintenance certificates were available. Staff were positive about the training and support they are given. All five staff who returned surveys told us that they are given training that keeps them up to date, helps them understand people`s needs and is relevant to their work. Comments about training included `staff training is conducted on a regular basis, staff are trained to a very high standard`, `we have refresher courses` and `all the training and courses we ask for`. The home`s self assessment told us that twenty-three out of the home`s twenty-eight permanent care staff have achieved a national vocational qualification in care. People we spoke to were all happy with the way The Millings is managed and organised. Comments made to us about the home`s management included `all the staff are supported by a management team I consider to be one of the best`, `always listens to people`s opinions and act on them`, `any staff suggestions they are willing to discuss` and `it is the best`. The home manager organises regular meetings for the staff, people who live at the home and their relatives. We saw records of some of these meetings during our visit. Senior management also carry out regular visits and quality checks, with reports on the findings of various quality audits being completed every month.
What the care home could do better:
The temperature records in the medication storage room showed that room temperatures were starting to creep up towards the maximum safe storage temperature for most medications. The home should monitor this regularly and if necessary take appropriate action to reduce the room temperature. We looked at the recruitment records of the home`s newest member of staff. These showed that the correct pre-employment checks hadn`t been completed before they started work. Because of this we checked some other recruitment records and found that other staff had been recruited safely, with all of the required checks and information being obtained before they started work. We discussed this with the manager and found that a misinterpretation of the current guidance on the transportability of criminal records bureau disclosures that are less than three months old had led to an isolated error. The manager is now aware of this and has assured us that it will not happen again. The home`s standard reference request forms didn`t ask referees to state their relationship to the applicant or to sign and date the reference they provided. This information would make it easier to verify the references that are provided and to ensure that appropriate references have been sought.